Record-breaking "transformational philanthropy" at universities

Saturday's Globe & Mail observes that "it's been a banner year for giving to Canadian universities." Donations to uCalgary hit a record $101 million this year, and UBC $111 million. Top Ten readers know that in the past week alone, Tim Horton's co-founder Ron Joyce donated $10 million to McMaster, Bob Wright donated $11 million to uVictoria, and Sheldon Inwentash and Lynn Factor donated $15 million to uToronto. Some things we haven't yet heard: Ann Dowsett Johnston, formerly editor of the Maclean's university rankings, will be leading a major fundraising effort at McGill beginning this fall. And later today, Blackberry-maker Research in Motion co-founder Jim Balsillie is scheduled to make a new multi-million-dollar announcement to support a social science research facility in Waterloo. Globe & Mail